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Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds To Be Wary Of

Dogs are the perfect companions – exceedingly loyal and unfailingly faithful. But while they can be your best friends, they can also be your worst enemies. This is particularly true if you do something to threaten their well-being, their owners, or their owners’ property. After all, there is a good reason why canines are also used as guard dogs; they can be aggressive and, in some cases, even fatal.

Here are the top 10 most dangerous dog breeds you should be wary of. Keep them as pets, but never inadvertently provoke them.

1. Pit Bulls

Pitbull (Photo credit: maplegirlie)

Pit Bulls are at the top of the list of the top 10 most dangerous dogs. It was reported that approximately 67 percent of fatalities from dog bites could be attributed to this particular breed. Weighing about 25 to 30 kilograms and sporting an extremely powerful jaw, a pit bull can take on just about any opponent, stubbornly bite on its victims, and maul them to a painful and final death. Because this breed of dogs is known to be aggressive, fearless, and superior fighters, Pit Bulls are one of the most sought after for dog fighting.

Note: While statistically speaking, pit bulls are responsible for the highest percentage of human fatalities among dogs, it should be noted that properly trained and cared for Pitbulls are extremely social and friendly around humans.

2. Rottweilers

Rottweiler (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Next on the list of most dangerous dog breeds is the Rottweiler. This is based on studies conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society, as well as the Center for Disease Control. With a weight that ranges from 46 kilograms to 59 kilograms, Rottweilers pack a lot of stopping power that surely no one wants to put to a test.

The territorial instincts of this particular dog breed is second to none, while the power of its jaws is unrivaled by any other dog all across the world. Rottweilers are remarkably smart, but you’ll have to devote a ton of attention and love to them. A poorly trained Rottweiler can be quite defiant and hostile.

3. German Shepherds

German Shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you examine households and armies throughout the entire world, you will find that most own at least one or more dogs of this famous dog breed. This is because German Shepherds have all the characteristics of an excellent guard dog: smart, loyal, fearless, adaptable, and easily trained. The level of loyalty of this certain dog breed is such that when you find yourself in the line of fire, the animal leaps to take the bullet to protect you. So what makes them part of this list of the top 10 most dangerous dogs? It’s quite simple. Owing to their fiercely protective nature, German Shepherds can be a terrifying enemy for all intruders and robbers.

4. Huskies

Huskies (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dogs belonging to this breed were responsible for roughly 6 percent of deaths caused by dog bites from 1979 to 1997, according to a US study done in 2000. Although they are generally considered very intelligent and energetic dogs, huskies aren’t really the ideal guard dogs. Huskies, in contrast to all other types of canines, pose some serious behavioral issues for dog trainers since these dogs were historically bred only for work and did not really socialize with people. Even children may appear as targets for these animals.

5. Alaskan Malamutes

Alaskan Malamute (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Being the closest in nature and appearance to wolves, Alaskan Malamutes find themselves included in this list of the top 10 most dangerous dog breeds. As working dogs, one can’t find any fault with them. They are capable of putting in a lot of work and are extremely valuable in areas where normal transportation methods just aren’t feasible. What makes them dangerous is that they are awfully hard to calm down once they get started. Since they always travel in a pack, you can also expect that they attack in a pack as well. Imagine a bunch of 35 to 46 kilogram-dogs hunting you down. That has got to send shivers down anyone’s spine.

6. Doberman Pinscher

Doberman Pinscher (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This breed is known for loyalty, brilliance, and alertness. As such, Doberman Pinschers are regarded as one of the breeds you’ll want to consider as guard dogs. Typically, the dogs in this category only attack when provoked or when they believe that their family or their property is being threatened. If this is truly the case, then a Doberman will most likely respond aggressively.

7. Chow Chows

Chow Chow (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Because of their cute and cuddly stuffed-toy appearance, Chow Chows don’t really appear that intimidating. However, you shouldn’t be fooled by such an attractive and deceptive façade. Owing to the fact that they have a very limited peripheral vision, these dogs are easily startled and annoyed, which might also make them quite unpredictable and aggressive. Extremely devoted to their master, Chow Chows can be the ultimate foe for strangers and intruders alike.

8. Great Danes

Great Dane (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Although the dogs in this category are considered mostly gentle giants, they can develop aggressive and hostile manners when trained poorly. Armed with inches-long and razor-sharp teeth and weighing as much as 150 pounds, Great Danes are a biting tragedy waiting to happen.

9. Dalmatians

Dalmatian (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The rise in popularity of this spotted dog breed can be credited to the 1961 animated film as well as its 1996 remake. A lot of parents sought to please their children by opening their homes to Dalmatians, but little did they know that they were inviting danger into their homes, too. The high-strung Dalmatians aren’t suited for homes with little kids as their nasty and destructive nature can be easily brought to the surface by the most minor of provocations.

10. Presa Canario

Presa Canario (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Historically bred for the purpose of guarding (and fighting with) cattle, the dogs in this category are capable of leading a victim to a hopeless death. Gifted with a totally fearless nature, unbelievable power, and man-stopping ability, Presa Canarios definitely deserve their reputation for being among the most dangerous dog breeds of today.

Dogs, even potentially dangerous dogs, when given ample and proper training, are useful and friendly creatures. However, if your intentions are shady, the sinking of a dog’s teeth into your body may be the very last thing you’ll ever want to put up with.

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99 Comments

Great list! I used to work at kennels run by a woman who bred Chow Chows. She had 6 dogs which lived indoors with her and around 30-odd chows chows which lived outside in large runs and kennels. Thankfully I wasn’t aware of their potential to be aggressive or I may have thought twice about cheerfully climbing into a cage full of them! Lovely dogs tho, with their unusual blue tongues. Thanks for the great memories!

Lying about what specifically? That pit bulls weigh 25 to 30 kilograms? That they have powerful jaws? That they can be trained to be game fighters? That they’re highly sought after in dog fighting? That pit bulls are responsible for approximately 67% of dog related fatalities?

That last statistic can certainly vary depending on the study. I’m not sure where specifically the writer sourced that particular figure, but most of the studies in the US agree that the number is at least close to 50% or above. Whichever study you go by, it certainly doesn’t qualify as a lie. Feel free to look it up.

They’re beautiful dogs and they can make great pets if properly trained, but that doesn’t change facts.

Pit bulls do NOT have extremely powerful jaws. They don’t have lock jaw and they have one of the lowest bite forces. They bite and approximately 235 psi. Which is very low. Although I do agree that they are sought after as fighting dogs I don’t think that they are naturally aggressive. The ATTS gave pit bull type breads about 85% average temperament score which beats most breads. Also the reason why the percentage of deaths caused by “pitbulls” is so high is because of the amount of different dog breads that are mistaken as pitbulls. The list below is a list of all the dog breeds most often mistaken as pitbulls.

They aren’t lying. I love pits, but they are trained world wide to fight. It is illegal, but that doesn’t change anything. If a pit is trained to be aggressive and attack, then it will be aggressive and attack. If the pit is trained to be gentle, then it will be gentle.

I understand that you probably love Pitbulls, but if you’re going to accuse others of not having the facts, it’d be great if you could cite statistics or studies to back your assertion.

Some of it is subjective anyways and I’ll acknowledge that not everything here is going to be without mistakes,. At the same time, what does “most dangerous” mean? Does it mean most aggressive? Most likely to cause fatalities? Most likely to cause severe injuries? The list is just for fun, no one is claiming that all pit bulls are bad. However, if you can link to statistics that show there are more fatal Golden Retriever attacks every year than Pitbull attacks, I’ll have the writer modify the article and issue a retraction.

you clearly dont have much knowledge about dogs apart from your wiki links and ‘statistics’ you obviously have not heard of the japanese tosa the Argentinian dogo etc the so called Pit bill and many other ‘dangerous’ dogs were bred to protect live stock, hunt and serve in the war like the american pit bull served in both world wars any dog is dangerous as is any human. they have to be well socialised and trained i am a proud pitbull owner, my pit is like a Chihuahua with friends and family but when it comes to ‘protection’ he is a shield. ITS THE MAN BEHIND THE DOG YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID OF

how about putting stupid/ bad owners on the list. The nature of all dog breeds is to please its owners. Dogs have been breed for jobs such as you have stated with each one of these breeds, but none of them have been breed to attack humans just for shits and giggles. All you are doing is adding to bad reps of misunderstood animals. I have never met any of these breeds that where any more dangerous than any other dog(unless inbreed which onces again is blamed to humans) .

Wikipedia not a credible source. It’s not a Primay or Secondary source but a Tertiary source. The information is not verified and can be modified at anytime by anyone.
I adopted a rescued pit/lab. I’m not saying this breed doesn’t belong on this list….I just think that Staff Writers should obtain information from a more credible source than Wikipedia.

Well Stephen, if Golden Receivers? bite more the pit bulls, I guess I should just go out and buy that muzzle right away! I guess I’ve been mistaking her growling and snarling for her snoring these past 6 years.

I dont agree and think you are narrow minded and completely misled by some studies by people whom ten to one never owned a dog. i grew up with Pitt Bulls and still own two and the latest to be added to the family is the second generation Great Dane in our family. so get a dog treat it like a family member and you’ll realise what the meaning, “man’s best friend means”!!!

Thanks for sharing. I’m not the writer of the article, but I think I can speak for anyone involved with opishposh.com and say that we love dogs. I own a German Sheppard myself whom I love to death, and I don’t disagree that dogs are man’s best friend. I’ve also played with Pitbulls before, and I know they can be awesome, loyal, affectionate dogs.

Again, that doesn’t change the fact that – on very rare occasions, dogs DO attack people and other animals. It doesn’t change the fact that some dog breeds – by their very nature – are more dangerous than other breeds. These are undeniable facts – I would argue that not accepting easily verifiable facts is the very definition of narrow minded.

I’m not going to disagree with you on the Pitbull statistics, even though I’ve owned three and they’ve all been big babies that just liked to be cuddled with. The problem is, and will continue to be, the fact that most people that selectively get Pitbulls (especially from profit-seeking backyard breeders), get them for the wrong reasons. They WANT a dog that looks, seems, and acts ferocious, because it’s ‘cool’. Even if they don’t fight them, they don’t exactly treat them like a loving house dog.

Staff Writers,
A few things about your facts about pitbulls.
Pitbulls do have natural aggression towards dogs & other animals. They’re naturally prey driven, as are many dogs. The aggression towards dogs can be socialized out of them, as with almost all bad behavior.
Pitbulls are not inherently aggressive towards humans, that is a developed trait. Looks like killing these dogs and/or banning them from certain areas haven’t stopped anything, let’s focus on something other than the dogs developed problems. Pitbull were originally bred to fight and had to stop when their humans stepped into the ring so they were bred without human aggression. As with any dog, if un-socialized, the dog can become aggressive towards other humans.
Sadly, pitbull attack statistics are not reliable. Most times the media or uneducated people refer to any “bully” breed as a pitbull. Most times when a dog has one or two characteristics of a pitbull it will be labeled as such, even if the dog has no pit in it. One of my dogs is constantly mistaken as a pit but has no pit in him. (we had him DNA tested when we rescued him) If the media reported attacks without the breed of the dog, do you think people would care as much? Do you really think that the media would report all the attacks?

Pitbulls are high energy and intense animals and can be the best family pet around when raised properly. These dogs need exercise daily, not just some time to romp around outside, they need structured exercise.

And good GOD can you please stop spreading the lies that pitbull’s jaw’s LOCK. They don’t. They’re strong but there is no locking mechanism. “However, pit bull-type dogs exhibit “bite, hold, and shake” behavior, which is seen in all breeds of dogs, and at times refuse to release when biting; methods to force pit bull-type dogs to release their grip include breaking an ammonia ampule and holding it up to the dog’s nose, or using a “break stick” to lever the dog’s jaws open if it bites a person or animal”

While I appreciate trying to educate people regarding the potential dangers of owning a dog but what happened to fact checking, outside of wikipedia? I mean the lock jaw myth was dispelled years ago. Making blanket statements about these animals is poor journalism. I’m sure that there are other issues with statements made about the other dogs but I don’t know much about the other breeds because I do not own them, although I’m pretty sure my mutt might have some great dane or dalmatian in him. This list just seems like it was hurriedly put together without the proper fact checking.

I have owned four Pit Bulls, three German Shepherds, one Doberman, and one Rottweiler in my lifetime. I now have one Pit Bull, 1 Rottweiler, and three Boston Terriers. They all live and sleep together, and the Boston’s are the unfriendly ones. We travel a lot and take our dogs to lots of different places. The best one to take to the beach is my Pit Bull. He will wear his hat and lay on his beach chair all day. The only dog in my family that has bitten anyone was my niece’s purebreed Lab. She had over hundred stitches in her leg, almost tore off her little finger. Raised her from a pup, and then just attacked her one day. German Shepherd will bite a stranger much quicker than a Pit Bull. Have owned enough of each breed to really know them. Not everyone should own some of the big dogs. Really some can’t handle and properly raise the toys. The ONLY thing wrong with the Pit Bull breed is that he wants to please his owner too much. Bad owner, badly raised dog, which applies to all breeds.

hi staff! what you are saying is so not true. i live in amsterdam, netherlands and about 15 years ago a law came up banning pit bulls from private keeping. then in 2008 i think it was they skipped the law again because studies have shown that during These years of dog racism there have been more bite attacks than ever before on humans. after they allowed pits back into homes statistics went down again. other breeeds are much likely to bite with much less of a reason

Dogs are pack animals – they behave benignly toward pack members. In contrast, they are often deadly aggressive with non-pack dogs and people. How a dog behaves around you and his family may be very different than how he behaves on the loose with strangers. Moreover, breeding leads to a common, though not uniform, temperament – some breeds tend toward aggressiveness, while others are docile. If you were truly knowledgeable regarding dogs, you would understand these features.

I owned 2 pitbulls, game bred linage. Both male, and female. These are the most self centered, attention craving, silly dogs I have ever owned. I like how they look, but they are not a very good breed, compared to other breeds that I have also owned. For me I am done with all dog breeds, except for German Shepherds. German Shepherds, have proved to me, to be the best breed hands down. 2 breeds of dogs in this world they are German Shepherds, and all other dogs. If you own one, you know what I am saying. If you owned anything other then a pit bull you also know what I am saying.

A 10-year-old Athens boy says a pit bull terrier that mauled his face and attacked a police office before being shot had been one of his favorite pets.

Jeremy Martinez required 30 stitches after the dog he had grown up with for four years unexpectedly attacked and tore off a piece of the boy’s face Tuesday. Jeremy said, “I loved him. He was my favorite because we had him since he was a baby.”

After the attack, the dog bit a police officer who came to the scene. The officer shot the dog several times, killing it. Jeremy’s mother says once her son’s stitches are removed, a plastic surgeon will examine the boy to determine if he needs reconstructive surgery.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds Based on Bite Fatalities

The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association conducted a twenty year study on the most dangerous dog breeds, and here are the top 10 most dangerous dog breeds based on the amount of fatalities they have caused.

To anyone who knows dogs, the American Pit Bull Terrier is no surprise at #1 on a list of deadliest dogs. In this study the Pit Bull stood far ahead of all the other breeds with 66 fatalities attributed to it. Known for their extremely aggressive nature, many states have legislation banning the breeding of pit bulls.
coming in at #2, the Rottweiler was responsible for 39 fatalities in this study.

fairly good list but somewhat vague, simply see a few not so common breeds that are far more potentially dangerous than lets say the dane,doberman,shepard,and dalmation….boerbel,staff,am.bull, and a few others,not based soley on aggression but ability.

The pitbull defenders are missing the point and therefore becoming part of the problem.I am a dog lover, believe they are the preferred living creatures on the planet and my only child is a 4 year old German shepherd. In raising him I can see, that with not enough exercise, not enough mental stimulation and not enough affection he could be a dangerous dog. Knowing and accepting this fact, you work to prevent any such neurosis in your dog and you havea great pet. Pitbulls are naturally aggressive. They were bred to be fighters in a pit, not in the wild in response to stimuli, in a pit in response to another thing in the room. Accept it and spend your time neutralizing it. Denial creates the problem. Yes, because of this reputation they attract the owners with wrong intent also. And yes, the numbers are correct. Any random person has a pitbull story. I have 5, and I have never owned one. Stop being a part of the problem. Respect their history and spoil it out of them.

maximus, the pit WAS bred for fighting, but would encourage you to research the origin of the breed and HOW they were fought. The breed is innately animal aggressive not human aggressive. Without proper leadership and stimulation/exercise ANY dog can exhibit the traits associated with the dogs listed here. I do love all dogs from pits to pomeranians. blame should never be placed on the dog but on the humans failing to be responsible animal owners. So is it the breed or the humans who own and interact with the dog?

You are right on the nail there.Years ago rescued a 6 month old doberman x german shepherd. He had never been out of a small yard and was manic. We allowed him to excersise for hours, had him neutered, socialised with other dogs and people. He was well fed and learned the rules of the house really quickly.
This beautiful family companion could have ended up mad, bad, sad and dangerous. It takes a lot of time and care to look after any dog. People need to be breed savvy and resist getting more dogs that they can handle. Big dogs need space. All dogs deserve responsible owners.
For the first time in my life I now own a small dog, she still needs plenty of excercise and is highly intelligent needing mental stimulation. She has never shown agression to any dog or person but I still would not leave her alone with a small child.

As Paula said earlier, Pit Bulls were breed to be animal aggressive, NOT human aggressive. I have owned a Pit Bull since 1981, when a friend gave me a cute little puppy. My favorite breed before that day was a German Shepherd, which I owned three. How many Pit Bulls have you owned Maxiums? I have never in my life met any breed smarter, more loyal than the Pit Bull. He is the one that is allowed to greet anyone who comes to my house, for he loves everyone he meets. No guard dog at all, for he would try to help you carry it out. I have owned and raised four Pit Bulls like this. I have not owned a German Shepherd since I met the Pit Bull. He is now my favorite breed. To know them is to love them. All Pit Bull owners are not gangas either. We are upper middle income, in our sixties, travel in a toy hauler with a golf cart. Our Pit Bull will pull the wagon to the beach, never even look at any of the dogs, wag his tail all day at the people. Then I read all the media about them, from people who have never even met one.

Please note that the list is titled breeds to be wary of, not breeds that you are most likely to be bitten by. I own a doberman and love love love her. But I knew the breed would be on the list. I also have a Black Lab (who is the most likely to lick someone to death) and a Jack Russell. Everyone avoids the Doberman and wants to pet the Jack Russell–that’s the dog that is most likely to nip at someone. The only breed I was surprised by (and can’t quite believe) is the Great Dane. I think I’ve been nipped at by Spaniels more than any other breed. What info/data did you use when making your determinations?

I don’t see what the big deal is here. This article is about dogs who can “potentially” be “dangerous” and to be “wary” of them. It never said these breeds were down right evil or totally dangerous. I recall each synopsis reiterating proper training. Heck, without training a chihuahua will “probably be likely” to gnaw your finger off. Lol. Apparently “some” people don’t understand modifiers. Well done to the Staff Writer, I like your defenses, sucks that you had to say the same thing that was already written. Lol Good day

I won’t disagree with the statistics, but I think it should be noted that pit bulls used to be considered nanny dogs for children and studies have shown that pit bulls have one of the highest tolerances for provocation after the Golden Retriever, the docile dog poster breed. What your statistics don’t take into consideration for any of these big breed molosser dogs that have such a bad reputation is that the wrong people choose these dogs. The most aggressive dogs I know are a Newfoundland and a Yellow Retriever – the Newfoundland bit his own master who tends to hit the dog a lot and the Yellow Retriever bit the son of the master who hits her a lot.

Meanwhile I have a Fila brasiliera/pit mix who is great with other dogs, children, and while she will bark at strangers she does not do anything without running it past me first. Both of the owners of these two other dogs (neighbors who I’d love to hit like they hit their dogs) have commented on how well-trained she is and how great her temperament is and while I don’t say it to their face I know it’s because out of respect for my dog as a living creature and respect for myself, I trained her to know what she needs to know for us to be able to live together. Not all owners take dogs for companionship. I wish a dog license was more than just a way to register a dog. Dogs were bred to be our companions, to help us with work, protect us. It disgusts me when I see dogs poorly treated, but mistreat your dog and I know exactly what kind of human you are.

Oh gosh, please don’t go posting how pits or pit~bull type dogs were ever “nanny dogs.” That myth has been dispelled already. People on both sides of the debate pretty much agreed on that already. “Bad Rap”, a major pit bull advocacy group announced at least a couple of years ago that they do not support the “nanny dog” myth anymore. They actually feel it’s dangerous to keep using this term because it’s misleading to parents with small children who may be considering getting a pit~bull type dog.

And in response to your comments re: the Newfoundland and Yellow Retriever. I’m guessing these dogs bit because they were being abused, not because it has been bred into their DNA for the last several hundred years.

Unfortunately your pit~bull type dog won’t stop to run it past you before she attacks, IF she’s going to attack. Please just remember, they never do…. until they do.

The issue I have with this list is the fact that pitbulls are dangerous is more in reference to the fact that they are often selected for dog fighting and bred to be more aggressive. They are not in fact any more aggressive than any other breed, As seen in the study referenced in this article http://stubbydog.org/2012/03/a-new-pit-bull-study/ The above list, while not necessarily incorrect, misrepresents pitbulls and causes me personal frustration because it is these broad generalizations that are made without taking into consideration all the facts that causes breed specific legislation and all in all is bad for any dog lover.

That’s a well reasoned critique, but I would be a little wary of trusting the objectivity of an article about a dog study that starts with “My heart was stolen by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier 17 years ago”.

Great list? Wow, really? Alright, I am willing to tale your opinion into consideration, IF and only if you will provide the statistics to your research. Where exactly did you get your information again, I don’t believe you said.

Statistically speaking, and with founded research and credits, people are far more dangerous to Pit Bulls than Pit Bulls are to humans; primarily by spreading ignorance. Also, and I quote this from a legitimate source and not my own opinion, the American Temperament Society states, “Temperament evaluations of American Pit Bull Terriers shows that this breed has a very high passing rate of 82.6%.
The average passing rate for the other 121 breeds of dogs in the tests: 77%.”

The average amount of actual Pit Bull attacks against humans is 0.00125%, and the majority of those attacks are actually against the humans that abuse and fight them.

I’m not an advocate, nor am I trying to say that there is no valid reason to be afraid of ANY dog breed, but at least do the proper research first before spouting your opinion.

Did you also know that statistically speaking, and by statistically I really mean “PROVEN” that the most vicious dog breed is actually a Chihuahua, then a Jack Russell Terrier. People laugh and scoff at this because these are small dogs, but it is the truth. Pit Bulls statistically make fantastic house pets, child companions, and friends, as does nearly any other dog breed in the world that is raised and treated properly.

“Most victims were children. Studies indicate that pit bull-type dogs were
involved in approximately a third of human DBRF
reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through
1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half
of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993
through 1996.”

” people are far more dangerous to Pit Bulls than Pit Bulls are to humans”

Is the article titled who is more dangerous to whom: Pitbulls vs. Humans?

“The average amount of actual Pit Bull attacks against humans is 0.00125%”
.00125% of what, exactly?

“Did you also know that statistically speaking, and by statistically I really mean “PROVEN” that the most vicious dog breed is actually a Chihuahua, then a Jack Russell Terrier. People laugh and scoff at this because these are small dogs, but it is the truth.”

You realize the article is entitled “Most Dangerous Dog Breeds To Be Wary Of” right? I’ll keep your “PROVEN” statistic in mind if I ever have to write an article entitled “Angry Dogs That My Cat Can Beat Up”.

pit bulls are not dangerous dog u just got to treat them right there like little kids but people always blame them for being mean the people should be blamed not the dogs..come one really people its not hard to raise a dog …if u treat them bad then their going to be me its not science….im sorry but i love those dog..if the pit bull gets put down so should the person who raised them.. im just saying they dont deserve to die for somebody stupid mistake or whatever it is

I’m not disagreeing but it isn’t the breed of a dog that makes it dangerous it is how you bring that dog up.say you have a Pit ball and you are loving then that dog will treat you the same but if you are horrible to it then it will be the same back.there are dogs that will do anything for their owners to keep them safe or happy even if it means putting their lifes at risk.think about what your saying before you say it.

I only have my own husky to attest for officially, but of the other huskies I, and she, have met, I am quite surprised to see them on this list. My own husky is unanimously described as “sweet” or “gentle”, the others I have met only the the criticism that they were “energetic”, which is quite true. Can you give me more info on how they are “dangerous”? I have never experienced a “dangerous” husky, just an excited one.

one thing I would like to say is that pitbulls jaws dont “lock”. that is an untrue statement. I also dont like how you say the viciously attack. I have been viciously attacked by a Chihuahua that would let go, that doesn’t mean its jaws locked

Rottweilers are very dangerous due to their size, but they can be the sweetest, most gentle giants in the world if you breed them properly. Also, fun fact, they get their tails docked because the muscle in them is so strong that it could knock over small children, and they are bred to be family dogs. I grew up with a Rottie named Bruno, and he was my baby. My family got him when I was about three years old. The first thing he did when he met me was knock me down because he was very excited. But let me tell you, we were best friends ever since. I remember, whenever I felt sad, or was crying, I would go outside, sit on a stone in my backyard, and he would come up to me and lay his head on my lap… I loved him so much and I wish that people wouldn’t judge a dog breed based on what some hermit scientist who probably has never owned a dog in his life says. Rottweilers are the most gentle giants, people just breed them wrong. If you ever meet a violent Rottweiler, don’t blame the breed, blame the breeder.

Ditto on the Chow dog! I was a professional groomer for many years and never encountered a pleasant one, was once startled to hear a chesty growl coming from 6 month old puppy after our vet tech gave him a friendly tickle! They just generally seem sour and sullen–not that dogs regard a trip to the groomer as great fun!

Very interesting letters section-the unending debate over , pitbulls, in a world with hundreds of dog breeds! Always the same tenets, but one topic I’ve never seen covered, is why people are attracted to a breed with such a dire image-what qualities do they possess that other breeds do not? I had a miniature poodle for many years–he gave me companionship, excersise, many good laughs, friendship…he was utterly trustworthy and I would often see him sunbathing outside with a neighborhood cat or two keeping him company! People didn’t fear him, and that brought me nice conversations no, he wasn’t physically capable of protecting me nor of menacing people, and no, he didn’t have a job (although, here in the Wisconsin woods, he would point grouse like a pro, which was pretty hilarious! He was just my friend–he made people happy–that is the kind of nature that belongs in a civilized world.
Sorry I rambled so much!

Apparently these people can’t comprehend anything that is said to them. Okay, im with the staff writers here because the specifically said that pit pulls, or any dog for the matter, can become very agressive with neglection and such. Yes, pitbulls can very well be a dog just as gentle as any other, however, the people that tend to care for these dogs often mistreat them and get them because they are “strong and violent.” They are bred to fight sometimes as well and that will most likely give them a more agressive behavior and are not to be reckoned with, as this whole post is pretty much saying.

I have 2 things to say. first of pitbulls are my favorite. its the owner that makes them dangerous. and second no dog is dangerous. its there horrible owners. trust me ive worked with every breed you put up there. they are all the sweetest dogs in the world

a) The only dogs that are listed on here are the dogs commonly found in MEDCs. I’m pretty sure that there are far more dangerous dogs than Great Danes or Dalmatians. Next time please study the statistics for dogs such as the Tibetan Mastiff (killed 3 children in the last week) and Pakistani Bull Dog for a global view.

But it all comes down to if a dog is properly trained I think it’s stupid that a place won’t allow you to have a dog because of its breed because of a made up list of dogs that became aggressive because of improper training or being provoked I mean humans do the same thing but there isn’t a dangerous human list?? I just find this an excuse for the government to squeeze money out of people for redicuously high insurance for dogs that I’ve met on this list that are ten times more friendly then dogs that arnt!

Guys, he even has a disclaimer under Pit Bulls. However he still rolled all 3 breeds of Pit Bull into one where the American Pit Bull Terrier accounts for anywhere from 60-80% of all pit bull attacks. The American Staffordshire is one of the highest winning show dogs and has been used as a nanny dog for a century.

A very well written article – I agree with the most! To be fair, I would say its a pretty close call for the top 10 – 15 dogs to be wary of… that’s, DOGS TO BE WARY OF and not DOGS TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS AND NEVER EVER OWN like most pathetic, defensive people here seem to think… it gave me a headache just reading these comments! Like you said, it’s a list for fun – not trying to dictate to the world what dogs are bad and what you shouldn’t own. And in any case. if 1000 people had to rub raw meat all over them and walk naked into a room with either a Pit Bull or a room with a Golden Retriever, I would bet my ballsack that NO ONE would opt to enter the room with the Pit Bull – that is basically all that is being said here… So stop moaning

Lots of complaints from pit bull advocates saying the writer is lying, etc. but not one comment from owners of the other 9 breeds on the list. Wonder why that is??? Of course a dog bred for the sole purpose of tearing apart other living animals-must be a mistake to be on a ‘dangerous’ list. DUH.

I am not saying these statistics are untrue but I think the bigger issue is how people raise their dogs. I grew up in a neighbourhood around a lot of dogs from great danes to toy poodle. Everyone was scared of the great dane (she was mixed) her name was Bailey and she was so big that all the kids would be scared she jumped over the fence. But she was the nicest dog ever. She loved kids and only wanted to say hello as they passed by and she was from an affectionate loving family. The meanest dog was a standard poodle mix named Buddy. Buddy was the most mean and territorial dog in the neighbourhood. Buddy barked at anyone who walked by and if you went in the yard when he was there your life was in danger because he’d charge you. The owner was a 7 year old who would get bitten and attacked by her dog. Even if we played too close to the yard he’d jump over the fence and try to attack us. The owners had no clue what they were doing and I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave it up for adoption or put it down. This list of dogs doesn’t surprise me (well the dalmations do a little bit) Huskies and Malamutes are very strong dogs. They pull things and if they aren’t trained right they could use that strength against anyone. Great danes are friendly but they are big and strong once they are abused their instinct is to defend itself. German Shepherds are beautiful and great companions but they were bred to shepherd sheep meaning they chase so theyre very fast dogs if they’re defending themselves their speed is their advantage. I love dogs but I think people just don’t know how to display dominance with them. Dogs are pack animals especially huskies, malamutes, and shepherds. People I believe treat dogs like cats in the sense they’ll take care of themselves. Dogs need guidance and its not for the faint hearted. This list should be called dangerous dogs to mistreat.

There’s a lot of useless wailing and hand-wringing about such articles. First I’d like to point out the last sentences in the intro to this article. It says, “Here are the top 10 most dangerous dog breeds you should be wary of. Keep them as pets, but never inadvertently provoke them.” It specifically says “keep them as pets” and I read into this that the author is NOT an advocate of Breed Specific Legislation. I own a pure bred GSD. I know that a GSD can be a powerful and protective AND high-drive dog. But knowing this, I took (and take) necessary action to make sure he develops properly. I socialized him extensively starting at 9 weeks of age. He went thru all levels of obedience training up to the CGC level. I have a large fenced yard, take him for a long walk everyday AND he has a job–agility and nose-work classes.

But whether you’re a “breed discriminator” or breed “defender” lets not get too wrapped up in dog bite hysteria. I read a statistic that in an 8-year period between ’05 and ’12 there were 151 dog bite fatalities. I don’t downplay the tragedy of someone dying but you have about the same odds of dying by bee/wasp stings.

People who spend a lot of useless energy trying to ban breeds can easily take a break from their hysteria and drive to the store for a few items only to be creamed by a drunk driver. There are far, far more serious things to worry about and usually they’re human related. If we really want to ban a dangerous species, we should be ringing the alarm bells about the “human” species. We kill about 9,000+ people per year via drunk driving yet worry about 40 dog fatalities.

Put into proper perspective, dogs make wonderful pet and ANY breed can be a wonderful companion if done correctly. NO breed should be feared just on breed alone.

Great list, but it seems misunderstood. This a list of most dangerous dogs, which I assume means that IF they attack they would do the most damage. Many small dogs are more likely to bite, but the damage they inflict is minor. I’m a Rotti lover. I had the sweetest girl who ruined their reputation for most who met her, but I have no doubt that if I was attacked that person would be in serious medical trouble.

I only agree with the list in the fact that these breeds have personalities that are for experienced dog trainers combined with a powerful body and a person buying one who really should be owning a pug. it boils down to bad training, not being a pack leader, or not giving the dog a job. Most of these dogs historically have a job and need one to be happy. ever heard of small dog syndrome? however those small dogs will not make the list simply because they do not have the size and power to do any real harm.

Until I started working to assess dogs in a municipal shelter, I too thought pit bulls were dangerous dogs. Since assessing, I’ve found the best behaved and very gentle dogs to be what we think are pit bull dogs. However, most have very little “pit” in them and we keep this misconception going. Even the experts can’t identify a “pit” by its looks. Also, we’ve had two fatal bites: the newspaper reported the dogs as pits, the dogs were no more pit bulls than a Chihuahua–there’s a lot of sensationalism and disinformation out there.

You shared a great interesting post here. My boss’ used to take care a variety of dog breeds. He also trains them in a good behavior. Its very nice to look at. We had a vacation once with it and enjoyed a lot there by seeing its funny shows.

This isn’t exactly my point of view on this. Pit Bulls are dangerous if they are trained to be used in fights. But if you let pit bulls be pit bulls, you are fine.
I have a great dane and he is 1 year 1 month old, and is a sort of dork… Just train him properly (watching caesar millan is a goood idea) and you will have a gentle giant. I think this list is innacurate, but by it’s title, this is going to make people paranoid about every single one of the dog breeds, and then dogs would be like a bad thing.

If I wanted to I can train two Chihuahua how to fight, and to be fighters. Now the question is, do ignorant people wanna watch two small dogs rip each other apart? I’m more scared of them little ankle biters than I am a full grown dog. I think them walking Piranha need to be on the list!

A popular myth is that pit bulls have “locking jaws”.[41] There is no physiological “locking mechanism” in the jaw muscle and bone structure of pit bulls or other dogs.[42] Pit bull-type dogs, like other terriers, hunting and bull-baiting breeds,and bite, hold, and shake. Also at times refuse to release. Pit bulls also have wide skulls, well-developed muscles, and strong jaws.

Rottie should not be om this list I have owned rotties since I was 3years old I still have a rottie to this day and I am 22 and have a 9month old my rottie loves my son when hes swining stop my dog push it for him lightly I well always own rotties best dogs out there

As a pit bull lover an a former breeder I completely agree with your article. There may be other breeds that are more likely to bite a human but are nowhere close to being able to cause as much damage. At one point I owned 12 pit bulls and been around the breed most of my life for the most part they are people friendly but do not tolerate other animals. The only breeds that I have been bite by was a boxer,lab, and chihuahua. This does nothing to discredit tour article a pit bull or Rottweiler certainty have the potential to be among the most dangerous breeds